Hello!
This update is muchhhh overdue – our sincere apologies! But hopefully you were able to keep up with Team 2′s updates from their blog. If you had, great! If not, no need to worry!
While Team 2 was in Japan, our friend from OPU (Fumika) continued to attend HBC each Sunday even after our team had returned home. While there, she attended Joy Joy 4 Nights – a program put on by HBC during the second week for junior high and high school students – and heard Steven preached on sin. From that message, she was able to have a clear understanding of her sin and see just how much she needs Christ. Miho and some of the Japanese female staff were able to talk with her afterwards and follow up with her the days following. Fumika repented and accepted Christ as her Savior that very night! Praise the Lord for all that He has done!
We were so excited when we heard the news and rejoiced greatly. After her final exams, she spent a couple weeks in Australia where she was able to attend church too. She has continued to attend HBC and her relationships with the Japanese ladies is growing. It’s exciting for us to keep in touch with her, to hear of what she’s learning at church, and super encouraging to hear that she continues to have good and challenging conversations with the church members there. Please be praying for her that God would cause her faith to grow and deepen and that her friendships with others in the church would grow as well, challenging her and encouraging her as she runs the race.
This update is muchhhh overdue – our sincere apologies! But hopefully you were able to keep up with Team 2′s updates from their blog. If you had, great! If not, no need to worry!
While Team 2 was in Japan, our friend from OPU (Fumika) continued to attend HBC each Sunday even after our team had returned home. While there, she attended Joy Joy 4 Nights – a program put on by HBC during the second week for junior high and high school students – and heard Steven preached on sin. From that message, she was able to have a clear understanding of her sin and see just how much she needs Christ. Miho and some of the Japanese female staff were able to talk with her afterwards and follow up with her the days following. Fumika repented and accepted Christ as her Savior that very night! Praise the Lord for all that He has done!
We were so excited when we heard the news and rejoiced greatly. After her final exams, she spent a couple weeks in Australia where she was able to attend church too. She has continued to attend HBC and her relationships with the Japanese ladies is growing. It’s exciting for us to keep in touch with her, to hear of what she’s learning at church, and super encouraging to hear that she continues to have good and challenging conversations with the church members there. Please be praying for her that God would cause her faith to grow and deepen and that her friendships with others in the church would grow as well, challenging her and encouraging her as she runs the race.
Early August, our team got to hang out with Mika. She’s from HBC and attends one of the universities that we visited while we were in Japan. Half the team went with Mika to explore the Arboretum in the afternoon and the rest of us joined them for dinner. It was a great time hanging out with her, getting to know her better, and be encouraged by her love for the church and by how faithfully she had been praying for our team even when she hadn’t met us yet.
A couple weeks ago, Takashi Kondo, Pastor Kondo’s son, came to LA to visit for a week. Some of us were able to hang out with him and the Okadas for a Labor Day BBQ. Throughout the week, members of both Team 1 and Team 2 took him to visit Disneyland, Universal Studios, Six Flags, Santa Monica Beach & 3rd Street, UCLA, GOC, etc. Basically a full scale tour of Los Angeles packed into a week! Kinda crazy but so much fun! We were thankful to be able to spend more time with him in LA, more than just a Sunday at HBC!
<--- Takashi’s first boba ever. Eric & Michael look almost as excited as Takashi. haha
<--- Takashi’s first boba ever. Eric & Michael look almost as excited as Takashi. haha
And this week, we have more visitors too!! Yukari and Akemi flew in to California Friday night for Tomomi’s wedding and got to LA last night. They joined us for church today and we were able to spend the afternoon with them – tacos, football at the park, and Yogurtland! What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon – in the sweet fellowship of believers. They are such a joy to be around and to hear updates from. Even through language barriers, we were still able to have a great time, knowing that we are united as one in Christ.
Unfortunately, at the moment, it seems like this will be the end of our stream of visitors from Japan. I know that I’ll be sad to say goodbye to them (again), but this has certainly been a wonderfully blessed summer – seeing fruit from ministry, experiencing the love of the body, practicing hospitality, encouraging and being encouraged by believers around the world, participating in such sweet sweet fellowship, and worshiping along believers across the world. Our God is so awesome and worthy to be praised!
Hopefully we’ll be able to continue posting updates from time to time throughout the year. So be on the lookout! Thanks for all your prayers.
-Priscilla
Unfortunately, at the moment, it seems like this will be the end of our stream of visitors from Japan. I know that I’ll be sad to say goodbye to them (again), but this has certainly been a wonderfully blessed summer – seeing fruit from ministry, experiencing the love of the body, practicing hospitality, encouraging and being encouraged by believers around the world, participating in such sweet sweet fellowship, and worshiping along believers across the world. Our God is so awesome and worthy to be praised!
Hopefully we’ll be able to continue posting updates from time to time throughout the year. So be on the lookout! Thanks for all your prayers.
-Priscilla